De La Salle University’s “Batch 122” continues to be the gift that keeps on giving.

After leading the Lady Spikers to their 13th championship last May with a flawless 16-0 sweep of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament, senior standouts Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, and Lyka De Leon gave head coach Ramil De Jesus what he considers his greatest gift yet by choosing to stay for one final collegiate season.

Nearly two months later, De Jesus remains overwhelmed with gratitude and joy over the decision of his veteran quartet.

“Ayun yung pinakaswerteng natanggap ko na regalo ng mga seniors ko na nagstay sila for the team, and hindi kaagad nagmadaling mag pro,” said the legendary coach on Monday during the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night at Discovery Suites Manila.

“Bihira yung ganoong seniors na ang mentality na hindi pansarili yung iniintindi kundi ang team. Kasi sabi nga nila hindi mo na mababalikan yung college days mo pagka nag-pro ka na.”

For De Jesus, it is not only their decision to stay that makes the four special, but also the commitment and selflessness they display every day in training.

Their return for UAAP Season 89 gives La Salle a significant boost as the Lady Spikers aim to defend their title and capture back-to-back championships.

“Mahabang bakasyon yung ginawa [ng players] kasi wala ka namang mahihiling sa mga bata kapag talagang nagpokus, nandoon naman yung focus nila eh,” said the decorated tactician.

“Yun siguro yung mga nawala nung mga unang seniors ko na iba-iba yung goal nila. Ito kasing mga naiwan, eh iisa yung goal, eh magkakabatch kasi. May mga times kasi na may mga ahead sa kanila, pero iba naman yung goal. Ito kasi iisa eh, iiba yung sisterhood nila.”

After falling short of the title in two consecutive seasons, La Salle reclaimed the championship in dominant fashion in Season 88. Now, with its championship core intact, the Lady Spikers are determined to defend their crown against every challenger.

“Yung bawat game naman dumadaan eh, so kung ano yung kahinatnan ng game, kung kulang yung preparation mo eh maghabol ka, pero kung nandoon ka sa itaas, eh di ikaw yung habulin. Ganon kasimple,” said De Jesus.

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After finally returning to the Final Four in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament, De La Salle University has bolstered its attacking line for the future by securing one of the top talents from the UAAP high school ranks.

University of Santo Tomas standout Argos Alingalan — fresh off a nine-goal campaign that earned him the Best Striker and Golden Boot awards with the Junior Golden Booters — confirmed to Tiebreaker Times that he has committed to De La Salle University for the Green Booters’ UAAP Season 89 campaign.

“First of all, I asked and informed my parents if I could transfer to La Salle, and they agreed naman po kasi andiyan naman sila para suportahan ako sa desisyon ko,” said the 19-year-old forward. “I participated in their tryouts and, luckily, nakuha po ako. Thanks to God.

“Sa ngayon po, I am already playing with them in the pre-season, which is Ang Liga, and meron pa pong paparating na Tuloy Cup and maglalaro po ako doon.”

Alingalan reunites with former Junior Golden Booters teammates Edcel James Lauron and Lance Locsin, who also made the move from UST to La Salle after helping the school capture the UAAP Season 87 boys’ football championship.

Although the jump from high school to the collegiate level is never easy, the Tagum City National Comprehensive High School product said the Green Booters have made his transition much smoother.

“To my new teammates and seniors, mababait naman po sila, and tinutulungan po nila ako. Even the co-captain and captain don’t make me feel left out as a rookie. And now, I’m still adjusting to their attitudes because I’m new, and there are different attitudes and egos that I need to adapt to as a rookie,” he said.

Alingalan also expressed his desire to contribute to the Green Booters’ pursuit of a historic campaign while living up to the expectations that come with his decorated high school résumé.

“As a rookie, gusto ko po tumulong sa team na gumawa ng history. And I know na mahirap, pero tiwala lang sa Taas kasi walang imposible kung magpupursigi. And to my seniors, they have high expectations of me because I received an award, and I’m trying my best not to disappoint them — especially the coaches, managers, and my seniors,” he said.

“And now, I’m just adjusting to the new environment, and I hope I can adjust quickly so I can help the team.”

Now beginning his collegiate journey, Alingalan is focusing on proving himself within the Green Booters’ system. Rather than dwelling on the accomplishments of his high school career, he hopes to use them as motivation as he embraces the greater demands of the collegiate game.

With the preseason already underway, the young striker is eager to build chemistry with his new teammates ahead of the UAAP Season 89 campaign.

“I’m so excited to play for this school and team in the upcoming UAAP, and I hope we can build chemistry right away so we can play well,” he said.

“We will do our best to make history this upcoming season and magtitiwala lang po kami sa Taas.”

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During the late 2000s up to the early 2010s, Ramil de Jesus flat-out dominated the UAAP.

Since De La Salle University returned from a one-year suspension in UAAP Season 70, the Lady Spikers went on to win four of the next six women’s volleyball titles.

“Before, ang binibilang ko lang kalaban noon siguro FEU, UST, even Adamson, siguro,” De Jesus once told Tiebreaker Times.

But the past 13 years have seen the rise of two programs — first, Ateneo de Manila University, and currently, National University.

Both forced De Jesus to re-learn the game, adjust his system, and keep up with the times.

TAI’S SYSTEM

When Tai Bundit took over as head coach of the Lady Eagles in 2013, the UAAP landscape was shaken to its core.

Bundit built a machine led by sensation Alyssa Valdez, complemented by playmaker Jia Morado, libero Denden Lazaro, and the likes of Ella De Jesus, Amy Ahomiro, and Mich Morente.

The Lady Eagles climbed through the stepladder format before stunning the Lady Spikers, who held a thrice-to-beat advantage.

A year later, the Ateneo juggernaut continued, sweeping UAAP Season 77.

“Nung wala pa si Tai dito, wala, walang challenge ‘yung UAAP noon para sa akin. Noong dumating siya, nagulat ako na, uy, ganitong level ‘yung dinala niya rito sa Philippines, so kailangan kong mag-adjust,” said De Jesus.

To match Bundit’s uptempo, confidence-driven system, De Jesus reinforced La Salle’s defensive discipline and tightened their transition play, making sure the Lady Spikers could absorb the Lady Eagles’ speed without losing structure.

“Kailangan kong abutin ‘yung ganitong level na dinala niya.”

Adjust he did, defeating Bundit in the next two seasons before the Thai head coach left Ateneo in UAAP Season 80.

“Naging challenge ‘yung pagdating niya. Noong dumating siya, nag-evolve ‘yung volleyball.”

Though Bundit would end up with an 11–10 record against De Jesus, La Salle held a 3–2 championship advantage, with Ateneo not making the finals in UAAP Season 80.

But while De Jesus was dealing with Bundit, a new power was rising in Jhocson Street.

Built from the grassroots, National University was steadily streamlining its program.

MONOLITH’S MACHINERY

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

In UAAP Season 77, National University–Nazareth School captured its first-ever girls’ volleyball title.

The Lady Bullpups would go on to establish a dynasty in the division, winning four straight championships.

The NUNS program was headed by coach Babes Castillo and managed by Monolith Construction and Development Corporation president Engr. Mariano “Bing” See Diet.

However, there was a major issue at the time.

The Lady Bullpups and Lady Bulldogs programs were not aligned, with the women’s team handled under a different management setup.

This led to some of NUNS’ blue-chip talents, such as Faith Nisperos and Thea Gagate, leaving and committing to other UAAP schools.

The culture shifted when See Diet was also tasked to handle the Lady Bulldogs program.

Players like Jen Nierva, Joyme Cagande, Princess Robles, Ivy Lacsina, and, more importantly, the “Golden Generation” of Mhicaela Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Camilla Lamina, Sheena Toring, and Erin Pangilinan would go on to represent NU in college.

By UAAP Season 84, that core had already reached the collegiate level.

NU had become the biggest headache for De Jesus.

“Yung recruitment ng NU mabigat dun e, kasi mostly lahat ng blue chip, nakukuha ng NU and then high school, ganun din. High school players pa lang, naiipon na sa kanila,” said De Jesus.

Instead of trying to match NU’s stacked recruitment pipeline, De Jesus leaned into La Salle’s player development program, focusing on maximizing what he had and refining players already within the system.

NU swept UAAP Season 84 — including a dominant finals victory over La Salle, led by rookie MVP Belen.

La Salle had its own super rookie in UAAP Season 85 in Angel Canino, who helped lead the Lady Spikers’ bounce-back run — capped by two hard-earned finals wins over the Lady Bullpups.

The next two seasons, however, proved difficult for La Salle.

The Lady Spikers finished third in UAAP Season 86 before being swept by NU in the UAAP Season 87 Finals in the swansong of the “Golden Generation” sans Lamina.

UAAP Season 88, however, told a different story.

With renewed focus, “Batch 122”, composed of Canino, Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, and Lyka De Leon, led La Salle to a dominant 16-0 sweep of the tournament.

It also helped that De Jesus finally found a stable setter in rookie Shan Nunag.

“Ngayon kasi, alam ko namang manipis yung team ko ngayon; hindi sobrang lalim ng bench namin, so makikita niyo naman na iilan lang ang umiikot na players diyan. Hindi katulad ng NU na kahit sinong gamitin mo, talagang puwede, eh. Sa amin, iilan lang,” reflected De Jesus.

“Kaya sabi ko, itong naitawid namin na ito, happy-happy ako kasi kahit ganito lang yung team namin, konti lang ang puwedeng mapaikot, naitawid namin sa finals.”

THE NEXT REINVENTION

On Tuesday, “Batch 122” committed to play out their final season in UAAP Season 89.

Of course, NU will still be the second-best team on paper, along with Adamson and UST.

The Lady Bullpups pipeline, meanwhile, continues to churn out blue-chip recruits, as evidenced by NUNS’ still-ongoing dynasty that has seen the program win three of the last four girls’ volleyball championships in the post-pandemic era.

The Lady Bulldogs program has also continued to recruit top prospects from all over the country, ensuring that NU remains a perennial contender for years to come.

And De Jesus hopes this batch gets the swansong they deserve before he once again re-adjusts to the next trend in UAAP volleyball.

“Siguro, ito yung last source ng recruitment namin, sila Angel na yun e. And then after nun, mag-uumpisa ulit kami,” said De Jesus.

“Tingnan natin kung kailan mahihinog. So, depende ’yon sa bata kung kailan mag-improve, mag-mature. So, itong Season 88, nag-mature na sila, kaya kami nakabalik dito sa finals,” he continued.

“Yung disiplina kasi iisa lang ang goal nila. Tapos yung leadership. Nag-mature naman lahat, lalo na yung mga seniors. Yun ang importante kasi kung meron kang seniors, ito ang goal; susunod lang ang mga bata. Mahirap yung maraming seniors, pero iba-iba naman yung goal nila. Marami ka ngang players, pero iba-iba yung goal, hindi iisa. Ngayon, iisa eh. Alam kong iisa ang goal nila.”

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